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US 9,808,991 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for additive mechanical growth of tubular structures
AssigneeCc3D LLC
InventorKenneth Tyler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for additive manufacturing and three-dimensional printing, and specifically for extruding tubular objects. A print head extrudes a curable material into a tubular object, while simultaneously curing the tubular object and utilizing the interior of the cured portion of the tubular object for stabilizing and propelling the print head.
Claims21
An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
- a head having at least one nozzle that discharges a tubular shaped product out of the at least one nozzle in an axial direction of the tubular shaped product;
- and
- a propulsion system configured to be supported by the tubular shaped product and to propel the head during discharge of the tubular shaped product.
An Additive manufacturing system, comprising:
- a head having at least one nozzle configured to discharge a tubular shaped product;
- a propulsion system configured to be supported by the tubular shaped product and to propel the head during discharge of the tubular shaped product;
- and
- a base station connected to at least one of the head and the propulsion system, the base station configured to supply at least one of power, control communications, and material to the at least one of the head and the propulsion system,
- wherein:
- the base station includes a controller configured to control operation of the head;
- the head includes a plurality of nozzles arranged around a perimeter;
- and
- the controller is configured to selectively adjust discharge from at least one of the plurality of nozzles to cause the tubular structure to turn away from a current trajectory.
6 more elements
An additive manufacturing system, comprising:
- a head having at least one nozzle configured to discharge a tubular shaped product out of the at least one nozzle in an axial direction of the tubular shaped product;
- at least one gripping device configured to engage a wall of the tubular shaped product and propel the head during discharge;
- and
- a base station connected to the head at a side opposite the at least one gripping device, the base station configured to supply at least one of power, control communications, and material to the head.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.